Eye exercising instrument



Sept. 1934- A. s. HENDRICK ET AL EYE EXERCISING INSTRUMENT Filed Nov. 17, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F/ .7 INVENTORS GZZZ my ,2 W k BY a er a: 54 8M- ATTORNEY Se t. 4, 1934. A. s. HENDRICK Er AL' EYE EXERCISING INSTRUMENT Filed Now 17, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 an l w ll 1/ I I:

IN VENTORI ArgIfiE/qhirick We er a: BY 73 SM 7 ATTORNEY T \l I I Patented Sept. 4, 1934 EYE EXERCISING INSTRUMENT Arnott S. Hendrick and Walter E. Tait, Lexington, Ky.

Application November 17, 1930, Serial No. 496,188 21 Claims. (Cl. 128-25) This invention relates to improvements in ophthalmic instruments and has particular reference to'improved means and methods of exercising and stimulating the eye.

The principal object of the invention is to provide improved means and methods of giving general exercise and orthoptic treatment to the eyes.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means of obtaining equivalent prism displacements during exercising without employing the use of prism lenses.

Another object is to provide automatic means for exercising the eyes while they are single binocularly fixed on fixation objects and for varying the positions of said fixation objects relative to each other during the exercising to obtain equivalents of varying prism displacements thereof.

Another object is to provide means for illuminating the fixation objects and for separately controlling the illumination of said objects during the exercising.

Another object is to provide improved means for fixing the position of movement of the fixation objects prior to the exercising of the eyes.

Another object is to provide improved means for adjusting the fixation objects-prior to the exercising to compensate for variances in unbalanced conditions of eyes of different individuals.

Another object is to provide improved means for automatically moving the eye exercising means during a rhythmic movement of the fixation targets. r

Another object is to provide simple, eflicient and economical means of rectifying various ocular defects by exercising the eyes. 1

Another object of the invention is to provide a new method of exercising and stimulating the eyes and to provide improved apparatus for carrying out such exercises and method wherein the image of a moving test object is reflected into the eye by means of moving reflectors together with meansfor controlling the action of said test objects and reflectors. K

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method and instrument for exercising and stimulating the eye and its intrinsic and extrinsic muscles by rhythmic movements of the test objects andreflectors in such variable rela-- tionships with each other as to produce the equivalent effect on the eye of various combinations of prismatic lens powers but in a more convenient and more effective manner.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following dcto incorporate means wherein the eyes may scription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and it will be apparent that many changes may be made in the details of construction, arrangement of parts and methods shown without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction, arrangements and methods shown and described as the preferred form only has been shown and described by way of illustration.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. I is a perspective view of the device embodying the invention;

Fig. II is a plan view of the device shown in Fig.v I with the cover removed and showing its internal mechanism;

Fig. 111 is a sectional view taken on line IIIIII of Fig. II; and

Fig. IV is a diagrammatic perspective view of the complete mechanism of the device showing some of the parts in cross section.

Most instruments for this purpose have in the past employed the use of a single moving target which was placed within the direct field of vision of the eyes. Both eyes were adapted to be fixed on the single target, either through their own accommodations, or through the use of prisms. The target was then moved back and forth in different meridians or rotated at varying positions to exercise the eyes. This method of treatment has shown indications of improvements but in most instances in the past the patients soon became fatigued and were forced to give up prior to obtaining any marked benefits or the strain on the eyes was so great that severe headaches existed after each treatment. All of these hindrances retarded progress and only a few casual improvements were obtained most of which were the result of a long drawn out period of tiring and practically intolerable treatments,

Another serious draw back with most prior art devices has been their constant requirement of the aid and attention of the practitioner or person giving the treatments. This greatly limited his practice and rendered most of th devices impractical for commercial use.

The prime object therefore of this inventi exercised with ease and comfort to the patient andiwhich will not require the constant aid and attention of the practitioner. The device incorporates three distinct features all of which are combined to produce an eye exercising device which greatly excels those of the past and which obtains more durable and accurate results with much more ease and comfort to the patient. The three features are as follows:

1. Means for reflecting the images of a plurality of fixation objects so that each eye sees only one of said objects and by means of which the said objects may be fused to produce single binocular vision;

2. Means for rhythmically movingthe fixation objects to obtain an effective prism displacement without the use of prism lenses, and

3. Means for moving the reflective means for exercising the eyes and stimulating the retina in the margin as well as the macula area during the rhythmic movement of said fixation objects. Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, the device embodying the invention comprises a pair of fixation objects 1 which are reflected by angled mirrors 2 so that each eye sees only one of said objects. The reflectors provide means by which the objects may be fused to produce single binocular vision in the eyes of the patient who is told to look througha sight opening 3 formed in the housing 4.

The fixation objects are transparent and may be of any suitable type which may be superimposed to effect single binocular vision such as the dots shown in Fig. IV, and are interchangeably held in a housing 5. In our present ar rangement shown in the drawings this housing 5 carries anelectric lamp 6 for illuminating the said objects. Obviously the fixation objects may be made otherwise than transparent and provided with suitable illumination if so desired. The housing 5 is secured to the support 7 on each of the arms 8 and each arm is pivotally connected at 9 to the base of the main housing 4. Link members 10 are pivotally connected at 11 adjacent one end to the arms 8 and at 12 adjacent the other end to a slide block 13.

The said block 13 is connected at 14 to a slide rod 15 and is reciprocated back and forth through movement of the rod in the slideways 16. The slide rod 15 is pivotally connected at 17 to a link member 18 which is itself pivotally connected at 19 eccentric with a reduction crank disc 20. The disc 20 is driven through the belt 21, pulley 22 and motor 23 and is adapted to transmit motion to reciprocate the fixation objects 1 back and forth about the pivots 9 through the movement of the slide rod 15 and block 13. The position of this reciprocating motion relative to the mirrors 2 is controlled by the position at which the slide block 13 is secured to the slide rod 15, that is, if it is adjusted forward the fixation objects will reciprocate back and forth in that portion of the reflectors nearest the patient and if the block 13 is adjusted rearwardly of the slide rod and secured thereto in that position the fixation objects will reciprocate back and forth in that portion of the reflector farthest away from the patient. The purpose of this adjustment is to provide means wherein an effective prism displacement of a given amount may be selected previous to the exercising of the eyes. The reciprocating motion of the fixation objects at this predetermined point provides means wherein the effective prism power at this position may be increased and decreased a given amount. This provides means for exercising and increasing the fusion faculty of the eyes.

The reflectors 2 are pivoted at 24 adjacent the sight opening 3 and are adapted to be moved back .eyes.

and forth about this pivot simultaneous to the moving of the fixation objects as described above. The swinging movement of the reflectors is in a direction transverse to the sight opening 3 and is imparted to the said reflectors through the link member 25 which is pivoted at 26 to the reflectors and at 27 to the crank arm 28. The crank 28 is mounted on the shaft 30 and is driven by the motor 23 through the spiral or like gears 29. Any suitable means such as a governor shown at 31 may be employed to vary the speed of movement of the reflectors and fixation objects to suit the requirements of different individuals.

Attention is called to the fact that separate means 32 and 33 for. controlling the illumination of each fixation object is provided so that the intensity of the light for each fixation object may be varied or shut off if desired.

The main housing 4 is pivotally connected at 32 to the base 33 so that it may be tilted to meet the requirements of different individuals.

The slide rod 15 may be provided with graduations 34 and the slide block 13 with an indicator 35 to enable the operator to set the fixation objects 1 to the required position for producing the efiective prism power desired prior to the exercising treatment.

The operation of the device is as follows: The

patient is told to look through the sight opening 3. The fixation objectsl are then illuminated and adjusted by moving the block 13 longitudinally of the rod 15 to the position at which the patient states that he sees only one object, that is, to a point where fusion takes place and single binocular vision is obtained. Smooth rhythmic motion is then imparted to the fixation objects 1 through the motor 23, crank disc 20 and link 18 and to the mirrors 2 through the motor 23, crank 28 and link 25. This causes the fixation objects to be reciprocated back and forth at a selected position along the slide rod 15 to create a varying effective prism displacement of the said objects relative to each other and simultaneously reciprocates the mirrors 2 back and forth transversely of the sight opening 3 about the pivot 24 to change the reflected position of the objects 1 before the This produces an exercising device with which many effective results may be quickly at tained. I The following is an outline of certain methods which have been found to produce favorable results in the treatment of the various defects in-. dicated with our improved instrument. It is apparent that other treatments with our instrument might be devised for any or all of the defects mentioned which would prove more effective than those set forth below. The purpose of these examples is to set forth certain methods which have been found to be effective and which thus illustrate the utility of our device. v

From the foregoing description it will be seen that simple, eflicient and economical means and methods have been provided for rectifying vari-.. ous ocular defects and that the rhythmic movement of the fixation objects is such that all of the exercises heretofore possible with prism lenses in front of the eyes are obtainable in a much more eillcient and effective manner. This movement also produces a much faster development of the fusion faculty of the eyes with more lasting results and with greater ease and comfort. The factors incorporated in this instrument simplify the technique of muscular calisthenics to such an extent that it is possible for the practitioner to adjust the instrument to conform to the speed and maximum and minimum versional and fusional effect so that the patient may conduct treatment exercise without the aid of anyone, thus making it possible to operate a treatment or exercise clinic of an unlimited number of instruments at the same time and without additional professional aid. I

Another marked advantage of the instrument herein set forth is that the perspective of the eyes can be developed rapidly and to a maximum. normal amplitude. This is due to the nature of the targets combined with the rhythmic movement of the mirrors which stimulate the retina in the margin as well as the macula area.

Having described our invention we claim:

1. An eye exercising device comprising separated fixation objects, means for rhythmically.

moving the objects and means for reflecting the images of the moving objects into the eyes of a subject, said objects being rhythmically movable independently of the reflective means.

2. An eye exercising device comprising separated fixation objects, means for moving the ob jects, means for reflecting the images of the moving objects into the eyes of a subject and means for moving the reflecting means with respect to said fixation objects.

3. An eye exercising device comprising separated fixation objects, means for moving the objects, means for reflecting the images of the moving objects into the eyes of a subject, means for moving the reflecting means with respect to said fixation objects and means for fixing the paths of movement of the fixation objects relative to the paths of movement of the reflecting means.

4. An'eye exercising device comprising separated fixation objects, illuminating means for illuminating the objects, means for moving the said objects reciprocally, means for reflecting the images of the moving objects into the eyes of a subject and means for moving the said reflecting means with respect to said fixation objects to change the angle of reflection of said objects.

5. An eye exercising device comprising separated fixation objects, means for obtaining single binocular vision of said objects in the eyes of a subject, means for obtaining gradually a variable effective prism displacement of said fused objects and means for effectively moving said objects transversely before the eyes while viewed single binocularly.

6. An eye exercising device comprising separated fixation objects, a pair of angularly related reflectors for reflecting the images of said objects into the eyes of a subject and means for moving the fixation objects and reflectors simultaneously to change the position of said objects relative to each other and to the eyes of the subject.

7. An eye exercising device comprising separated fixation objects, a pair of angularly related reflectors for reflecting the images of said objects into the eyes of a subject, a source of power and motion transfer means connecting the source of power with the separated fixation objects and reflectors for imparting motion to the objects and reflectors to change the position of said objects relative to each other and to the eyes of the subject.

8. An eye exercising device comprising separated fixation objects, a pairof angularly related reflectors for reflecting the images of said objects for fusional superposition in the eyes of a subject, a source of power and motion trans-' fer means connecting the source of power with the separated fixation objects and reflectors for imparting rhythmic motion of varying speeds to the objects and reflectors simultaneously to change the position of the objects relative to each ing speeds to the objects and reflectors simultaneously-to change the position of the objects relative to each other and tothe eyes of the subject and means for varying *the speed of motion of the fixation objects and reflectors.

10. An eye exercising device comprising a housing having a sight opening therein, separated fixation objects pivotally connected within the housing, angularly related reflectors pivoted in the housing adjacent'the sight opening for reflecting the images of the fixation objects into the eyes of a subject positioned at the sight opening, a source of power and motion transfer means connecting the source of power with the separated fixation objects and reflectors for imparting motion to said objects and reflectors to change the position of the objects relative to each other and to the eyes of the subject.

11. In a device of the character described means for fusing separated eye fixation means aligned with the two eyes for single binocular vision thereof, means for rhythmically moving the fused eye fixation means before the eyes, and meansfor changing the relative positions of said eye fixation means during said rhythmic movement.

12. In a device of the character described, reflective means aligned with the eyes, separated fixation objects aligned with the reflective means, means for fusing the images of the fixation objects in the reflective means to give single binocular' vision thereof, means for rhythmically moving the reflective means before the eyes, and means for changing the position of the images of the fixation objects with relation to each other in the reflective means during said rhythmic movement.

13. 'An eye exercising device comprising separated fixation means, means for obtaining single binocular vision of said fixation means in the eyes of a subject, means for moving said binocular vision obtaining means to effectively move the fixation means relative to the eyes and means for simultaneously producing an effective prism displacement of said fixation means during the efiective moving thereof by said single binocular vision obtaining means.

14. An eye exercising device comprising separated eye fixation means, means for obtaining single binocular visionof said eye fixation means in the eyes of a subject, means for imparting a rhythmic movement of the images of said eye fixation means in a direction transversely of the direct field of vision and means for rhythmically displacing the images relative to each other during said transverse movement thereof.

15. An eye exercising device comprising eye fixation means, means for obtaining single binocular vision of images of said eye fixation means in the eyes of a subject, means for moving the images of said eye fixation means transversely relative to the eyes as a unit in the direct field of vision and means for displacing the binocularly viewed images relative to each other to vary the distance there between during the movement thereof as a unit.

16. An eye exercising device comprising separated eye fixation means, means for obtaining single binocular vision ofsaid eye fixation means inthe eyes of a subject, means for moving the images of said eye fixation means relative to the eyes in the direct field of vision and means for displacing the images relative to each other during the movement thereof, and means for varying the speed and movement of said image moving means. g

17. An eye exercising device comprising separate fixation means, meansin cooperative relation with the fixation means for moving said fixation means transversely relative to each other, means aligned with the fixation means for reflecting the moving fixation means to be binocularly viewed by the eyes of a subject and means for moving said reflecting means to change the position of the reflected fixation means relative to the eyes.

18. An eye exercising device comprising fixation means, means for producing separateimages of the fixation means before the eyes of a subject and for obtaining single binocular vision of said images, means for moving the images transversely relative to the eyes while viewed single binocularly and means for simultaneously displacing the images relative to eachother to produce an effective prism displacement during the transverse movement thereof.

19. In a device of the character described, eye fixation means, means for fusing. separated images of the fixation means aligned with the two eyes for single binocular vision thereof, means for moving the binocularly viewed images transversely relative to the eyes and means for changing the position of said-images relative to each other in the direction of the movement thereof while viewed binocularly.

- 20. An eye exercising device comprising separate fixation members, means associated with said fixation members and with the eyes of a subject to aid in obtaining binocular vision of said members, means for varying the spaced relation of the separate fixation members, means for raising or lowering one fixation member relative to the other and means for moving the binocularly viewed fixation members as a unit transversely before the eyes.

21. An eye exercising device comprising separate fixation members, means associated with said fixation members and with the eyes of a subject for effecting convergence or divergence of the eyes to aid in obtaining binocular vision of said members, means for altering the relation of the separate fixation members to change the effect of convergence or divergence on the eyes and means for moving the fixation members as a unit before the eyes to change the position of said fixation members relative to the direct line of sight of the eyes.

ARNOT'I S. HENDRICK. WALTER E. TAIT. 

